Covers you think are better than the Original
 

One that comes to mind is Stone Temple Pilots cover of "Dancing Days." I like it much better than Led Zeppelin's original ... which is almost painful for me to listen to.

The Byrds's cover of "Mr. Tambourine Man" and Peter, Paul, and Mary's rendition of "Blowin' in the Wind." Both great Dylan songs.

I prefer<i> April Wine</i>'s cover of 21 Century Schizoid Man to the <i>King Crimson</i> original: it is fairly faithful but with less noodling and works all the better for it, IMNSHO.

Apoptygma Berzerk - "Fade To Black" (orig. Metallica)
Assemblage 23 - "Love My Way" (orig. Psychedelic Furs)
Bigod 20 - "Like A Prayer" (orig. Madonna)
Hate Dept. - "Planet Earth" (orig. Duran Duran)
Mythos & DJ Cosmos - "Send Me An Angel" (orig. Real Life)

-matt

Aztec Camera - Jump (Van Halen)
Travis - Baby One More Time (Britney Spears Original)

Covers I hate...
 

That song Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson is good. Then these little brat, punk kids cover it, and make it horrible. Covering songs is a tricky business.

Red House Painters' "All Mixed Up" is much much much better than the original version by the Cars ( I think that's right).

Cake - I Will Survive

Fiona Apple-Across The Universe


Btw, there was this guy on The Tonight Show the other night who sang this song and he totally butchered it.

Definitely! One of my all-time favorite club tracks!

Uh...Fiona Apple better that The Beatles?!

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Little Wing {Jimi Hendrix}
Concrete Blonde - Crystal Blue Persuasion {Tommy James & The Shondells}
UB40 - Red Red Wine {Neil Diamond}
Huey Lewis & The News - It's Alright (a cappela) {Curtis Mayfield}

Lemme guess, a Beatle fanatic? I didn't say she was better than the Beatles. I said I prefer her version of Across The Universe, and if you don't like it then that's your problem.

All the covers that Metallica have done and made there own.

SRV, voodoo child, and little wing

I love covers, I like to see bands create a "new" version of an old tune.

I don't like covers that sound exactly the same, most of the stuff from the "IamSam" soundtrack sound far too much like the original versions for my tastes.

If you're gonna do it, make them your own.

Back Together Once Again - By 4play

tori amos - Landslide
travis - Baby One More Time

This cover does circulate on the Net as a Travis song, but I'm pretty sure it was actually done by Fountains of Wayne. The cover is way better than the original though.

I also really like the Gourds hillbilly version of "Gin & Juice". I don't know if it's "better" than Snoop's version, but it's one of the most fun tunes I've ever heard.

http://www.danchan.com/daily/2000/07/30/travis.htm

That's the song that I have.
The band you mentioned may have covered it, too I don't know.

nina simone - don't let me be misunderstood
elvis costello - don't let me be misunderstood
tori amos - '97 bonnie and clyde
jersey girl - bruce springsteen

to name a few . . .

While both versions are spectacular, I think that Jimmi Hendrix did a better version of Bob Dylans, "All Along the Watchtower".

Pat Boone - Crazy Train -rolleyes-

Ahmet & Dweezil Zappa - Baby One More Time -rolleyes-

Ozzy Osbourne & Dweezil Zappa - Stayin' Alive -rolleyes-

Ooh, so many to choose from:

David Bowie - China Girl (Iggy Pop did the original)
Iggy Pop - Real Wild Child (originally done by the Crickets)
Sid Vicious - My Way (I'm sure Frank Sinatra had the mafia kill Sid for this :D )
Bigod 20 - Like a Prayer
Lords of the New Church - Like a Virgin
Country Dick Montana - Like a Virgin
Chameleons - John, I'm Only Dancing (Bowie)
David Bowie - I Can't Explain (The Who)
Fiona Apple - Across the Universe (I know it's blasphemous to think a non-beatles version of a beatles song is good, but frankly the beatles version lacks a little something).
U2 - Unchained Melody (Bono is just so cheesily good with this song)
The Cure - Hello, I Love You (I'm sure Jim Morrison is rolling over in his grave when this song gets played, but Fat Bob was made for this song).
Siouxsie and the Banshees - This Wheel's on Fire
Social Distortion - Ring of Fire
Erasure - Take a Chance on Me
Depeche Mode - Route 66
Bauhaus - Ziggy Stardust

Lovage - Sex (I'm a)
Nevermore - Sounds of Silence ....ok, maybe not better but I like it more
ELP - Fanfare for the Common Man

Damn, I was just gonna say Apple's remake. And yes I saw that nasty job some schmoe on Leno did. :yack: Who signs these losers?

I agree with the Travis - Baby One More Time

also

Fuel - Breed (nirvana cover)


songs that are just or nearly as good imho:

Travis - Killer Queen (Queen cover)
Fuel - Daniel (Elton John cover)
Marvelous 3 - Reelin in the Years / Always something there to remind me
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - Leaving on a Jet Plane